Around Columbia County: Crafting Opportunities in Hard times
Columbia County, according to the news, has been hard hit with unemployment. MTC Works, in partnership with the Oregon Employment Department, has been busy. Boise Paper announced a big lay-off in late 2008. We have enrolled over 200 ex-Boise people from the lay-offs so far. Now that Boise White Paper was approved for Trade Act, we anticipate even more response. Many of those enrolled are already in some kind of training. A few have completed training and some have found work in their new occupation!
During this past year Columbia County has helped approximately 150 adults and dislocated workers attend outside training in everything from truck driving to wind turbine technician. Of the five wind turbine people who have recently graduated two are currently working, two have job offers to start and one is still actively seeking work with some good prospects.
Just this month we will start the "Lean" program to help us "work smarter not harder." This training is being funded under the Wired Grant and we are looking forward to the good suggestions from that team.
Our youth numbers have grown significantly due to the two grants we have received and two more grants we have applied for. We will have a youth crew in Vernonia at the Stub Steward State Park again. Check out the park someday. It is a great place.
Much thanks to Karin Miller, Manager at MTC Works! in St. Helens, Oregon!